COLUMBUS, Ga. - The Marian softball team is back in the NAIA Softball World Series for the first time since 2019, and are gearing up for their first game of the tournament as the Knights take on Midland University in the opening game. Below is a matchup breakdown as the Knights begin their fifth trip to the NAIA World Series in program history. 

HOW THEY GOT HERE
Marian reached the NAIA World Series by winning an improbable three games in one day to win the Indianapolis Bracket in the NAIA Opening Round. Marian scored a win over Middle Georgia State as they faced elimination for the first time, while in the championship games of the bracket the Knights pulled off back to back wins over Columbia, winning 1-0 and 8-1. 

Midland was the No. 2 seed in the Oklahoma City Bracket, and pulled off an impressive run to the NAIA World Series by taking down the defending NAIA Champion Oklahoma City. Midland won their first game of the tournament by a 2-1 score over Mount Mercy in nine innings, and proceeded to advance to the championship game by taking down OKC 2-1. In the first championship game the Warriors would fall 3-1 against the Stars, but rebounded in the if necessary game with a 2-1 win to advance to their fourth NAIA World Series appearance.

SCOUTING MIDLAND
Midland enters the NAIA World Series with a 39-13 overall record, and entered the NAIA postseason receiving votes in the final NAIA rankings. Midland earned an automatic bid into the NAIA Tournament by winning the GPAC Tournament, finishing as the runner-up to Northwestern in the GPAC Regular Season.

The Warriors enter the NAIA World Series with team slash line of .296/.362/.442, and have 45 home runs as a team. The Warriors rank fourth in the NAIA in home runs this season, while their offense ranks in the top-40 in multiple categories including runs and total bases. Defensively, Midland has a team fielding percentage of .962, and their pitching staff has a combined ERA of 2.33. 

The Warriors top pitcher entering the World Series is Aliyah Rincon, who has made 35 appearances and pitched over 200 innings, holding a record of 23-6 this season with a 1.40 ERA. Midland's top offensive threat comes from the bats of Roni Foote and Carly Pfitzer, who have combined for 30 home runs and 104 RBI. Emily Prai is also a threat in the Warriors lineup, as she enters the NAIA World Series with a team-leading batting average of .438. 

COMPARING THE NUMBERS
In comparison to Midland, Marian holds the upper hand over the Warriors in multiple statistical categories, as Marian holds a slash line of .329/.390/.467, scoring 351 runs. Marian is the NAIA's sixth-best hitting team with 515 hits, while ranking top-15 this season in runs scored, RBI, home runs, and total bases. Marian's defense holds a .970 fielding percentage and the pitching staff enters the final stage of the season with a 1.96 team ERA. 

Sydney Wilson and Olivia Stunkel enter the final stretch of the season with a combined 46 wins, with each pitcher seeing action in 31 or more games this season. Both Stunkel and Wilson have logged over 163 innings in the circle this season. Offensively, Savannah Harweger enters the NAIA World Series as the top hitter in the NAIA, leading all players with a .490 batting average, while Sierra Norman and Abby Madere follow the senior in batting average. 

FOLLOW THE ACTION
Fans can watch each game of the NAIA Tournament on the NAIA Network, with each game of the tournament charged at a pay-per-view price of $9.95. There is a tournament pass available for a price of $34.95. All games of the tournament can be found here. The semifinals and national championship game will be aired on ESPN+. 

Live stats for Marian's game against Midland can be found here. Stat links for the remainder of the tournament will be updated on the Marian softball schedule page.

WATCH PARTY
Knights fans not making the trip to Georgia will be able to watch the game on Marian's campus, as a watch party will be held in the Marian dining commons. The schedule of Marian's games will dictate what games are being aired, so be sure to follow @MUKnights on Twitter for updates of potential watch parties. 

WHAT'S NEXT
The Knights path goes in one of two directions pending the result of their contest against Midland. With a win over Midland, Marian would advance in the winner's bracket, taking on Our Lady of the Lake (Texas) in the second round, with first pitch scheduled for 7 p.m. on Friday night. If Marian were to lose, they would drop to the elimination bracket, where they would play the loser of either the University of the Cumberlands or the University of Science and Arts (USAO) on Friday afternoon at 1 p.m.

First pitch for the 2023 NAIA World Series comes at 10 a.m. on Thursday morning, as the Knights take on the Warriors. 

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